Eintracht Frankfurt has to answer in court in the case of the alleged data clause at RB Leipzig. The accusations now go far beyond the original suspicion. The professional sector also appears to have benefited.
“It is clearly verifiable that not only youth players were pulled from the database. The view is not towards Eintracht Frankfurt U17, but rather towards the professional sector”, said ISB Managing Director Jürgen Kost to Sport Bild.
Recently it had become known that a computer at Eintracht Frankfurt had gained access to the scouting database of the Red Bulls via the provider ISB via a Leipzig login. Frankfurt then dismissed the suspected U17 coach Frank L.
But according to Kost, the accusations go far beyond the youth sector. Protocols of the software show that Sebastian Polter (Union Berlin), the young Kylian Mbappe (today Paris Saint-Germain, then AS Monaco) and also Frankfurt’s actual newcomer Rodrigo Zalazar were also observed.
The suspicion that more people than just the U17 trainer were involved was confirmed. “The frequency and intensive use over 22 months allows the conclusion to be drawn that this is not just an individual,” Kost said.
While Frankfurt is investigating the allegations internally, RB Leipzig has served a statement of claim. The claim amounts to 43,307 euros – more than the 22 months with a monthly fee of 1100 euros would have cost. This is due to the fact that Eintracht was able to see which players Leipzig followed via the account – an unfair competitive advantage.
“Much of the scouting also involves rejecting players instead of transferring them. The extent to which our data and video helped there is not comprehensible,” Kost said.
The data theft was only revealed because a high-ranking Eintracht employee allegedly brooded with the free access. According to Sport Bild, Frankfurt’s head scout Ben Manga is said to have talked to the former RB coordinator Jochen Schneider.
